PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 178, 28 July 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Wellington, Tuesday nights. The House met at 2 30 Keplying to questions, the Government thought that provision for the widows and children of the men killed in the Government sludge channel at Kucqara might be left to public benevolence, and that it was not necessary to interfere in the matter. — Alexander M' Donald, lately appointed a Native Land Purchase Agent at Otaki, was convicted of stopping the mail coach and shooting a horse, but he was a man capable of rendering good service iv the position to which he had been appointed. — Edward F. Harris, who had been gazetted as Native Interpreter, was the same man who was convicted in 1871 and sentenced to four years' imprisonment for forgery. When the appointment was made the Government was not aware of that fact, his application having been recommended by influential residents of the district in which he resided. — The use of colonial coal was bo rapidly superseding that of 'the imported article that the Government did not consider it necessary to impose a tax on it. — The provision made in the new Licensing Act for the appointment of an Inspector of beer and spirituous liquors to prevent adulteration would be strictly enforced. — The Government recognised the importance of the Bill to relieve shareholders from payment of the present license, but saw no probability of getting such a measure • passed this session. — Provision would be made in the Public Works Statement to give effect to the agreement between the Provincial Government of Auckland and the Thames local authorities in reference to the Grahamstown and Tararu tramway. —There was no foundation for a statement recently made in the flawera Star bearing upon the action of natives in erecting fences across the line of road near Parihaka. — A bailiff had been appointed for the Warden's Court at Collingwood, Nelson.— When the West Coast Commissioners report came down the Government would submit a plan for approval for dealing with the whole question about suppressing the natives from fencing colonial roads and ploughing the landa of settlers on the West Coast. &On the motion of Sir George Grey, a ;

Select Committee waa appointed to report on the Patetere correspondence, o? any circumstances connected with the sale thereof to European purchasers. The House went into Committee of Supply when the Education vote was considered, and the discussion occupied the remainder of the sitting until 5*30. . Wednesday. After some further discussion, Mr M'Caughan amended his original proposal by moving that the education vote be reduced by £64,000. On this the Committee divided: Ayes, 15; Noes, 58, The vote, reduced by £30,000, was then agreed to, as were all the other votes of tho Department. The whole of the voles in Class IV " Department of Justice/ were passed with a few reductions proposed by the Minister. The House rose at 1-20 a.m.